Tag Archives: douglas county hospital

Lance Lundsten, taken from his Facebook page

Friends of gay teen Lance Lundsten of Miltona, Minn., are saying this week that they believe anti-gay bullying played a role in the 18-year-old’s suicide over the weekend, according to KSAX-TV‘s website.

Officials with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed that they responded to an emergency call at Lundsten’s residence about 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, and that Lance Lundsten was then transported to Douglas County Hospital, where he later died. Sheriff’s department officials also confirmed that they believe the young man’s death was a suicide.

Lundsten’s friends at Jefferson High School have created a Facebook memorial page for the teen, and several people posting on the page have said that he was bullied because of his sexual orientation, and that they believe the bullying played a role in his suicide.

Another Jefferson High School student created a separate Facebook page — The Jefferson Anti-Bully Coalition — following Lundsten’s death. That page includes the following statement under the “Info” tab: “Here to stand up for everyone who needs defending. The school’s staff isn’t protecting us, it’s up to the students to help each other.”